MARTINEZ / Air board orders refinery to act

Published 4:00 am, Friday, May 13, 2005

The Tesoro Golden Eagle refinery near Martinez has been ordered to address repeated releases of sooty pollution from its coker, which has had repeated malfunctions over the past 18 months.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the order following four incidents in which coker exhaust, filed with particulate pollution, sent up black plumes. Particulate pollution can be inhaled into the lungs and cause tissue damage.

Tesoro must develop an improved backup system to handle coker emissions and reduce the possibility of future problems. If not, the refinery could be penalized up to $25,000 per day. Tesoro spokesman John Ballestreros said the company was trying to rectify the problems with the coker, an old unit that has been refurbished a number of times.

"Working with outside experts, we came up with a solution that's consistent with what's called for in the abatement order," Ballestreros said. "We're working consistently with the air district."